10 stunning automotive inspired gadgets
We are always exhilarated by the little view of our favorite cars. From Porsche to Ferrari, from Lamborghini to BMW, etc. Now we can flaunt these car designs in our pockets through these geeky gadgets with engraved emblems of our beloved cars. Take a look.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
ROARED WITH A RECORD….WORLD’S UNUSUAL RECORDS FOR BEING AUTO CRAZZED!!!
Heaviest Car Balanced on the Head
WHO: John Evans
WHAT:159.6 kg (352 lb)
It's death defying, it's daunting and it's downright dangerous. But
Dangling cars from his head is all in a day's work for professional 'Head Balancer' Evans. He's balanced people, books and beers, but the car's by far the most deadly trick - a strong wind and it could be the end of the road for John.
John's a gigantic guy. He's 2 meters tall and weighs in at 155.7 kg (343 lb). But it's his 60.9cm (24-inch) neck that's the only part of his body strong enough to take such immense weights. So the slightest slip, trip or nudge could send him tumbling to a crushing death, as his arms wouldn't be able to cope with the load!This big fella has broken 25 records in 11 categories and is going for more.
Heaviest Aircraft Pulled (Individual)
David Huxley pulled a Boeing 747-400, weighing 187 tonnes (184 tons), a distance of 91 m (298.5 ft) in 1 minute and 27.7 seconds on October 15, 1997 at Sydney , Australia Sydney , Australia
Guinness Book of record for a hydrofoil Car
This Amphibious Sports Car covered 34km in 3 hours and 14 minutes which makes it the world’s fastest of its kind. It took place across the English Channel . The lightweight 750 cc, two-cylinder engine puts out 140 hp at 7,000 rpm, good enough for a top speed of 80 kph on smooth water. I know you want one too !
World Records for Most Persons in a Car
- Audi 80: 21
- British
- British
- Campervan: 86 students of the
- Citroën 2CV: 21, team in Aschach/Donau (
- Ford Escort Mk. 1: 20, students of the Birmingham University (U.K.), 16 November 1985
- Ford Sierra: 27, students at the University of Nottingham (U.K.), 14 October 1985
- Jaguar XJ6: 42, The
- standard 56-seater
- Maruti: 42, Gira Bagri (
- Mercedes Benz MBO 405G bus (normal capacity: 144 persons): 438 students of Temasek Polytechnic in
- Mini (original, British Motor Corp.): 21 students in Selangor (
- Mini (new design) 22 Mini 10" Sport Club (
- Renault Espace: 34 students of the École supérieure de commerce (
- Renault Twingo: 22 Osnabrück Tigers cheerleades at the opening of a Renault selling centre in Osnabrück (
- Skoda Felicia: 28, students of a high school in
- Skoda Octavia: 32, students of a high school in
- Smart: 18 people from Bad Abbach, Oct 2002 [minimum age 15 years only for this category]
- Trabant 601 S: 21, Jugendfeuerwehr SG am Dobrock (Germany) 18 May 2008 [minimum age 10 years, not less than 1.525 m tall]
12 men who are at least 2 m [6 ft 7 in] tall, "Clubs of Tall People" meeting, Torgau (Germany) 30 Sept 2000 - Vauxhall Astra: 21 students from the University of York (UK) in 2006
- VW Golf: 30, Raiffeisen Youth Club Langenlois (
- New VW Beetle ("new Beetle"): 27, Penn State Abington (EU), 25. 4. 2001
Fastest electric vehicle-world record set by Altairnano
[Jan 2]RENO, Nev,US--Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (Nasdaq: ALTI), a leading manufacturer of safe, high-performance lithium-titanate battery pack products and energy storage products announced today that Dennis "Kilowatt" Berube set a new National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) electric vehicle world speed record driving an electric dragster powered by Altairnano battery packs.
This is the 17th consecutive year that Dennis Berube has held the world record for fastest electric vehicle in a quarter mile.
Requirements for setting the world record include two record-breaking times on the same day under the same conditions. With runs rapidly decreasing in time, Berube began with 9.0 seconds, followed by 8.4, then 8.009 seconds.
On the fourth run of the day, Berube broke into the 7-second category reaching 159.65 mph in 7.956 seconds. Dennis then assured his spot in the record book with a consecutive run of 7.963 while reaching 160.65 mph for the quarter mile.
"Setting two world records in one month is an impressive feat," said Dr. Alan Gotcher, President and CEO of Altair Nanotechnologies, "With his first record in the electric dragster category and now the record for all electric vehicles, Dennis and Altairnano are pushing the frontier of advanced battery technology in racing vehicles."
A founding competitor of the National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA), Dennis Berube has made the exceptional accomplishment of improving upon and maintaining notable records on numerous occasions over a 17-year span
Fastest heavy truck-world record set by Volvo NH
[Nov 20]Vasteras Airfield, Sweden--Boije Ovebrink, a former truck racing driver, set a new world record for the fastest ‘Standing kilometre for heavy trucks’ in his red Volvo NH.
Boije Ovebrink says: "We had very limited resources and a number of technical difficulties to resolve. However, the team behind the truck demonstrated an enormous will to succeed, overcoming all the problems and taking on all the challenges on the way to the new world record.”
Under the watchful eye of Swedish Motor Sport Council officials, the world record was broken at Västerås Airfield in Sweden
Fastest road-legal BMW-world record set by G-Power
[Feb 5]PAPENBURG, The system uses one belt-driven ASA T1-12 compressor for each cylinder bank. Contrary to conventional mechanical chargers that waste a large portion of the additional power on being driven themselves, the ASA compressor has an efficiency rate of up to 80 percent.
The ASA charger is also small, which allows G-POWER to install two of them in the tight confines of the M5 engine bay. With a maximum airstream volume of up to 1,200 kg per hour per cylinder bank the compressors are designed for an even higher power output. Boost pressure is limited to 0.5 bars.
The pre-compressed charge air is cooled down in a highly efficient dual-flow water-to-air intercooler system that is mounted above the engine. This measure optimizes power yield and, in combination with a larger water-cooled oil cooler with pressure reservoir, also ensures the engine’s thermal health.
Specially developed mapping for engine electronics and SMG gearbox controls coordinate the perfect interaction of all new omponents.
The inner workings of the four-valve ten-cylinder engine are optimized for even higher engine speeds with lightweight, precision-matched high-performance forged pistons from technology partner MAHLE.
We will no longer use coal, By 2014
Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Government of Ontario, Canada, is giving shape to her grand plans. She wants to turn “Ontario green” by “shutting down the use of coal energy by 2014.” In India recently, on her third visit, Pupatello says she has a mission to fulfill. “Our mission is to have a green world. We focus on renewable sources of energy such as solar, hydro and wind mills and stress on three sectors: green infrastructure, green building, water and waste water management.” It is in this connection that she was here on a week-long tour, to “explore possible collaborations and joint ventures between Ontario and India”.
Pupatello says she has high hopes from India. “Your country is one of the fastest growing economies. ” On energy front, she believes that both India and Ontario can complement each others’ work as both are equally “concerned about the environment”. Says she, “India quests for clean, renewable energy sources and increased energy efficiency, and so do we.”
Talking of her plans for a green Ontario, Pupatello says that by 2014, it will use “use 30% hydro, 20% renewable and 50% nuclear energy”. Says she, “currently we are using 10% coal energy. By 2014, we will shut down the use of coal. We will follow proper safeguards while using nuclear energy in order to protect the environment.” Nuclear energy, Pupatello says, will be a major source of power for India. By 2030, it is expected that India will treble its power generation capacity. “There are plans to build around 25 to 30 new nuclear stations over the next two decades that would cost more than $100 billion. The nuclear technologies companies based in the province of Ontario are keen to supply nuclear fuel and related technology to India for production of electricity. We are keenly awaiting the signing of nuclear agreement between Canada and India”.
Ontario has another USP: The BlackBerry. BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) tops Fortune’s list of the world’s 100 fastest-growing companies and controls 56% of the smart phone market in US.
She is proud of the fact that in the increasingly competitive auto industry, Ontario has emerged as North America’s achievement story. “Our auto corridor, which stretches from Windsor to Oshawa, is home to six of the world’s top automakers — Toyota, Honda, Ford, General Motors, Chrysler and Suzuki. Our auto corridor is also home to
Monday, September 07, 2009
2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost officially revealed
BMW has released the official details and images of the new Rolls-Royce Ghost (aka RR4), the new model series in the company’s ultra-luxury brand. Visually, the model remains mostly unchanged from its concept debut at the Geneva Motor Show last March.
Power comes from a new 6.6L V12 twin-turbo engine making 563-hp with a maximum torque of 575 lb-ft. 0 to 60 mph comes in just 4.7 seconds with a top-speed electronically governed at 155 mph. The engine is mated to a 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox. For those of you wondering, the Rolls-Royce Ghost manages an estimated fuel-economy of 17 mpg.
The Rolls-Royce Ghost will make its world debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show later this month and will be priced between €200,000 and €300,000 when it goes on sale. Buyers will have a choice of 12 exterior colors, each of which can be contrasted by an available Silver Satin bonnet.
2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost:
Press Release:
ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST
Autumn 2006, Paris motor show: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced that work had begun on a new model series. The new car would be in production and on sale by the turn of the decade. The only other facts confirmed at that stage were that it would be smaller than the Phantom saloon and priced somewhere between €200,000 and €300,000 before tax. Speculation about its style and specification began almost immediately…
Little was seen of the new car, codenamed RR4, until the spring of 2008, when Rolls-Royce released the first official sketches. The styling was instantly recognisable as a Rolls-Royce, although less traditional than previous models. At the time Chief Designer, Ian Cameron, said, “The RR4 has a more informal presence than the Phantom models with a greater emphasis on driving. In design terms this is expressed through its slightly smaller dimensions, yet with powerful, purposeful proportions. It is a true and uncompromising Rolls-Royce in every sense.”
As sightings of secret development models on the road increased, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled 200EX, the experimental forerunner to Ghost, at the Geneva motor show in March 2009. An instant hit, 200EX bore the trademark Rolls-Royce design cues but in altogether more compelling fashion. It was a clear statement of intent.
What the design team was seeking to create was a modern Rolls-Royce that achieved a new dynamism but remained true to its luxurious heritage. They had found inspiration in contemporary furniture, architecture and yachts but also in the spirit of the 1930s – that sense of adventure and endeavour – which they wanted to capture in the character of this new car.
“200EX is a modern execution of timeless Rolls-Royce elegance, breaking with some areas of tradition but retaining the core values that make our marque unique,” said Chief Executive Officer Tom Purves. “We expect the more informal design to broaden the appeal of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, attracting people who appreciate its fusion of refinement, new technology and contemporary style.”
After the show, 200EX embarked on a world tour, during which further information about the forthcoming production model became available. It would be powered by a new 6.6 litre V12 unique to the marque, delivering 563 bhp with extraordinary performance figures. It would ride on an intelligent air suspension system offering peerless ride and dynamics. And it would be called Ghost.
“Ghost is one of the most revered names in automotive industry,” said Tom Purves. “It evokes images of adventure and technical innovation. The first cars to bear the Ghost name were known not only for impressive dependability and refinement but also great flair and style.”
Following the overwhelmingly positive reaction to 200EX during its travels, very few changes were made in the transition to the production Ghost – a tribute to the remarkable achievements of Ian Cameron’s and Helmut Riedl’s design and engineering teams.
In September 2009, the new Rolls-Royce Ghost was formally launched to the world.
The company says the Rolls-Royce 200EX is a design study for a contemporary 4-door sedan that shows the direction for the Ghost, a new model series that enters production in 2009.
2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost Preliminary Specifications
The Basics
Vehicle Type: premium large car
Drivetrain (CG estimates)
Drive wheels: rear
Engine: 6.6-liter V12
Horsepower: 500
Torque: 500 lb-ft
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Dimensions (CG estimates)
Wheelbase: 129.7 inches
Length: 212.6 inches
Width: 76.7 inches
Height: 61.0 inches
Base curb weight: 5,150 pounds
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Hyundai no longer the Dangerfield of cars
After years of fighting for respect, the Genesis Coupe may do the trick
After two decades of offering shoddy, disappointing, and short-lived cars in the U.S., Hyundai is finding it an uphill battle to convince consumers that its products really are good now.
Quality scores have soared and hands-on tests of Hyundai models introduced in the last five years have been worlds apart from earlier tests, but consumers remain skeptical — and it is hard to blame them.
What the company needs is a new product that embodies improved quality, but also one that appeals to a customer for whom product features are more important than brand image or historical reliability. What it needs is a product targeting a group so determined that it would make excuses about the unreliability of Italian sports cars or rationalize the inability of British sports cars to keep the rain off their heads.
Hyundai has recently demonstrated an impressive dedication to product quality, both in terms of durability of construction and product usability, and the company has seen its quality ratings climb correspondingly. But earlier in this decade, it was Hyundai’s strategy to engage in spec-sheet competition, listing all the check-off boxes it could for each product. This is the approach employed by bored 14-year-old Internet flame warriors arguing the automotive version of whether Batman could beat Superman in a fight.
While the specs provide ammunition to geeks who send scathing e-mails arguing with those who actually drive the cars and have some basis in fact for rating them, they prove to be largely irrelevant in the real world.
What good was having a Hyundai V6 engine if Honda’s four-cylinder was smoother, quieter and more powerful at the time? So when Hyundai announced the Genesis Coupe, with powerful engines, modest curb weight and rear drive, the specifications had to be viewed with a hopeful skepticism. Fortunately the company’s new dedication to quality has produced exactly the kind of sport coupe enthusiasts would hope for.
Product summary
The good:With excellent handling and a powerful, efficient engine, the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track thrills while coming in at a very affordable price. IPod connectivity is standard, and the Infinity audio system sounds incredible.
The bad:Navigation isn't currently available for the Genesis Coupe, although Hyundai might make it available later this year. The iPod interface is difficult to use.
The bottom line:You would be hard-pressed to find a better everyday sports car at the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track's price. Excellent audio features are just icing on the cake.
Specifications
- Manufacturer:Hyundai Motor Company
- Part Number:101147010
Basic car properties
- Body styleCoupe
- Available EngineGas
Safety Features
- Smart airbagsStandard
- Antilock brakesStandard
- Traction controlStandard
- Stability controlStandard
- Roadside assistanceStandard
- Adaptive cruise controlStandard
Entertainment
- Satellite radioStandard
- Connection for portable MP3 sound systemStandard
- MP3 CD-enabled sound systemStandard
- USB connectionStandard
Climate/convenience
- Keyless startStandard
- Two-way security systemStandard
- 12V power outletStandard
Drivetrain Technology
- Drivetrain availableRear-drive
Navigation
- Trip computerStandard
- Live traffic dataStandard
Communication
- Bluetooth phone interface Standard
- Home automation integrationStandard
